ERICA DUNOMES

Last week I shared with you the A Life Refined Bible Reading Plan. During the process of reading over and seeking out the deeper meaning of each verse, and after posting it for you to have access to it, I found that it left a great impression upon my heart. It made me think about the process of prayer. And as I thought about it, I was compelled to come and encourage you to consider one simple question to ask yourself before and after you pray.

First, let’s address what prayer is.

Billy Graham has an explanation for prayer that I love. He said that prayer is spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Simply put, prayer is “talking to God.”

With prayer we develop a relationship with God that stems from trust and utter dependence upon Him. We also make requests and petitions to God that demonstrate that we are seeking His guidance, asking for His wisdom, and making known what we would like to see take place in our lives.

Prayers are words that hold power.

God is a Spirit being. The Bible says that words are what He used to give earth its existence. The Bible also says that we were created by Him in His image and likeness. So, as God is a Spirit, so are we.

Every day we pray we are spiritually connecting to God by the use of words. Just as God’s words held power to create earth, our words hold power too. They create things in our lives also. Knowledge of this should suggest to us that praying should not be so loosely done.

Take care in your approach to prayer.

There is special care that should be taken when we pray. The Word of God tells us that we shouldn’t be anxious, but that we are to give thanks and let our requests be made known to God.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ~Philippians 4:6

It’s the focus of the requests that prompted me to really pause and think last week. The subject at hand was living a life refined by God and what that looks like in the life of a Believer. It’s something that I find that Christians all over the world, myself included, constantly ask God for.

When we make such requests, do we really understand what we are asking for? What will be our response when God decides to answer our prayer? As I was prompted to reflect on these questions, another question came up that I believe we all should ask ourselves before and after we pray.

Are you ready for what you’re asking for?

Are you really ready for what you are asking God for? You may not think that this question is important but there’s a couple of reasons why it is. Firstly, to ask this question will lead you to ask more crucial questions. It involves doing a heart check. A self-examination. What are your motives? Secondly, it will keep you from rashly asking for things with your mouth only to then be disappointed when your prayer is not answered.

It has been seen all too well, in my many years of walking with the Lord that many people love to blame God when their prayers don’t get answered like they expected. However, they hardly ever seem to consider that God who watches over them daily and knows them best may not see it being the proper time for them to have what they have been asking Him for. It’s not to say that they will never get it. We must be careful not to cross certain lines.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ~I John 5:14

It’s certainly understandable to want to know what’s happening or why the answer hasn’t shown up yet. But who are we to question God? However, if God deems the time perfect, according to His will and purpose, everyone who asks of Him will receive what they ask for. This is why asking yourself that one simple question is so important. Let’s check out the ways in which asking this question can be beneficial.

Two ways you can make asking this one simple question beneficial:

Ask yourself before you pray. Do a self-examination. Are you ready at this particular point in your life to ask such a request from God? Determine what your motive is for asking. Determine if you really have the faith to ask for such a request from God right now. You know yourself well, but trust me, God knows you best. So be honest with yourself.

Ask yourself after you pray. If you’ve determined within your heart that you are ready to make such requests before you pray, then you must make a strong determination after you pray. Are you ready to do what it takes and go through what you have to go through? Are you prepared to stay in a place of expectancy? Will you be patient and remain in faith until your prayer is answered?

There’s a reason why asking is so important.

Let’s face it, some prayer requests take time before they are ever answered. Others get answered immediately. Asking yourself if you are ready to make certain requests puts you in a position to really demonstrate your level of faith and trust in God. It can be truly revealing as to where you stand spiritually. I believe that’s something we all should want to know.

So, what are your thoughts? Do you find asking yourself this one simple question helpful? Do you agree or disagree that you should even ask the question? Tell me in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.